Description: The AS 365 Dauphin, 'Dolphin' in English, is a medium-weight twin-engine helicopter derived from SA 360 Dauphin single-engine helicopter. The original model named SA 365 Dauphin 2 first flew in 1975 with the first production aircraft delivered in 1978. The helicopter family is available for civil customers under the AS365 Dauphin designation. The AS565 Panther is the designation for the aircraft tailored for military customers. Aerospatiale of France developed this helicopter family in the 1970s as the Dauphin 2. The company was re-structured in the 1990s becoming Eurocopter and Airbus Helicopters in the mid-2010s. The Dauphin/Panther is equipped with a four-blad main rotor and a Fenestron shrouded tail rotor. It is powered by two Turbomeca Arriel 2C turboshaft engines each rated at 749-shp and allowing a top speed of 278 kilometers per hour. The Arriel 2C2 engine was provided to the models produced in the 2000s.

The AS 565 Panther military helicopter has been designed to perform Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) missions. The AS 565 Panther can be equipped with AS15TT anti-ship missiles, searchlight, Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD), dipping sonar, search radar, and torpedoes. Besides, the helicopter can be fitted with 20mm gun pods and unguided rocket launching pods to engage targets on the ground. Several navies worldwide have acquired the AS 565 Panther ASW helicopter. The People's Republic of China (PRC) produces the Panther helicopter locally under the Z-9C designation.